32nd Air Operations Squadron
Encyclopedia
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. Its last assignment was with 32d Air Operations Group, based at Ramstein Air Base
Ramstein Air Base
Ramstein Air Base is a United States Air Force base in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz. It serves as headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe and is also a North Atlantic Treaty Organization installation...
, Germany. It was inactivated on 1 November 2005.
Heraldry
On a light turquoise blue disc, border light yellow orange, edged black, a caricatured, brown and white wolf's head, with mouth open and fangs bared, dripping saliva, proper, white facing to the dexter. (Approved 2 August 1945.)World War II
The US Army Air Corps constituted the 32d Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor). Seven weeks later, on 1 February 1940, the squadron activated at Kelly Field, Texas. After completing this training, in November 1940, the 32d transferred to Langley Field in Virginia to join the 36th Pursuit Group. Once there, the 36th equipped the squadron with Curtiss P-36 Mohawk aircraft.During its stay at Langley the 32d Pursuit Squadron flew a number of Curtiss YP-37 aircraft for a short period. On 6 January 1941 the squadron transferred to Ponce Field, on the island of Puerto Rico as a reaction to the German presence in South America. In 1942 the German Navy began anti-shipping operations using submarine in the Caribbean. The subs sank several tankers in the harbor at San Nicholas, Aruba and even shelled an oil refinery on the island.
The 32d Fighter Squadron had the responsibility for tracking down "Wolfpacks". The so-called "Wolfpacks", three of more subs together in a mission known as search and destroy, this led to the famous name and insignia "Wolfhounds". On 10 May 1942 the AAF redesignated the squadron as the 32nd Fighter Squadron. In the fall of 1942 the Germans reduced their submarine activity in the Caribbean region to concentrate its activity on the North Atlantic convoy route and the approaches to northwest Africa. With the withdrawal of submarines from the Caribbean region the Antilles Air Task Force, which included the 32nd, concentrated its efforts as a striking force on its primary function of guarding against possible attacks on the Panama Canal.
In March 1944 the AAF moved the entire squadron to France Field in the Panama Canal Zone to replace the 52d Fighter Squadron. The squadron was placed under the 26th Fighter Command, whose task was to defend the Panama Canal and to perform reconnaissance missions.
With the termination of the War the AAF inactivated many units. On 15 October 1946, the AAF inactivated the squadron.
United States Air Forces in Europe
In 1954 the Dutch government agreed, at the instigation of NATO, to accept the offer of the American government to deploy a squadron of American military planes in the Netherlands. The task of the squadron would be to provide a contribution to Dutch air defense, within the context of NATO. The 512th Fighter Day Squadron (FDS), stationed at Manston Airfield in Great Britain, was detailed by the Headquarters of the USAFE for transference to the Netherlands. Its new home base would be Soesterberg AB. The first group of American airmen, compromised quartermasters and air traffic controllers, arrived at Soesterberg on 6 October 1954.In September 1955 the designation of the 512th was transferred to RAF Station Bentwaters in England. Its aircraft, personnel and equipment however stayed in the Netherlands and made up the newly activated 32d Fighter Day Squadron. The 32d was assigned to the 36th Fighter Wing at Bitburg Air Base
Bitburg Air Base
Bitburg Airport is a commercial airport serving Bitburg, a city in the Rhineland-Palatinate state of Germany. It is located 2 miles southeast of Bitburg, 20 miles north of Trier, and 135 miles west of Wiesbaden....
in Germany. On 18 July 1958 the USAFE redesignated the unit as the 32d Tactical Fighter Squadron, as part of the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing.
In 1959 the 32d received the signature "Royal", the crown and wreath of the Dutch Royal Family (the House of Orange) were added to the emblem, giving it its unique look. This unique honor was granted in recognition of the unit's contribution to the defense of The Netherlands and graphically illustrates the 32d close ties with the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
On 1 November 1968 the USAF transferred the 32d Fighter Interceptor Squadron to the command of the Seventeenth Air Force stationed at Sembach Air Base in Germany. On 1 July 1969 the USAF redesignated the unit as the 32d Tactical Fighter Squadron and reqquipped the squadron with the McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II. On 19 October 1977 the USAF decided that the 32d would receive the McDonnell-Douglas F-15 Eagle. In 1978 the Phantoms were flown to Ramstein AB in Germany were they were assigned to the 86th TFW.
In 1989 the Dutch government allowed USAF to upgrade its headquarters unit at Soesterberg AB from squadron to group status. The 32d Tactical Fighter Group was activated at Soesterberg on 16 November 1989 and took over functions of old 32 TFS headquarters element and support squadrons received responsibilities previously assigned to 32 TFS detachments.
During the Gulf War, after more than forty years, the Wolfhounds saw action again. Aircrew and ground support personnel were deployed, during the Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM, August 1990 until March 1991, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. On 28 January 1991 one of the pilots killed an Iraqi MiG. After the War they continued their air activities in theatre as a part of Operation PROVIDE COMFORT from April 1991 until April 1993. Headquarters USAFE replaced the 32d Fighter Group on 1 July with the 632d Air Base Squadron; its duty was to complete the closure actions. The 32d Group's subordinate units were inactivated on 1 July and the group on 1 October 1994. On 19 April the group furled its colors in formal ceremonies attended by members of the Royal family and the American ambassador.
Modern era
In the spring of 1994 HQ USAFE received permission from HQ USAF to use the 32d designation for the new 32d Air Operations Group. The 32d Tactical Fighter Squadron was redesigned the 32d Air Operations Squadron on 1 July 1994 following their departure from Soesterberg Air Base. The squadron assigned to the 32d Air Operations Group, formerly the 32d Fighter Group, which was also redesigned on 1 July 1994. Both the group and the squadron were assigned to Ramstein Air BaseRamstein Air Base
Ramstein Air Base is a United States Air Force base in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz. It serves as headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe and is also a North Atlantic Treaty Organization installation...
, Germany, under the USAFE Theater Air and Space-operations Center. The 32d Air Operations Squadron was inactivated on 1 November 2005.
Lineage
- Constituted 32d Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 22 December 1939
- Activated on 1 February 1940
- Redesignated 32d Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942
- Inactivated on 15 October 1946
- Redesignated 32d Fighter-Day Squadron on 9 May 1955
- Activated on 8 September 1955
- Redesignated: 32d Tactical Fighter Squadron on 8 July 1958
- Redesignated: 32d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 8 July 1959
- Redesignated: 32d Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1969
- Redesignated: 32d Fighter Squadron on 1 November 1991
- Inactivated 1 July 1994
- Redesignated 32d Air Operations Squadron 1 July 1994
- Inactivated 1 November 2005
Assignments
- 36th Pursuit (later Fighter) Group36th WingThe United States Air Force's 36th Wing is the host wing for Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. It is part of United States Pacific Air Forces Thirteenth Air Force...
, 1 February 1940 - Antilles Air CommandAntilles Air CommandThe Antilles Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Sixth Air Force, based at Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico...
, 3 August 1943 - XXVI Fighter CommandXXVI Fighter CommandThe XXVI Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Sixth Air Force, based at Albrook Field, Canal Zone...
, 13 March 1944 - 6th Fighter Wing, 25 August-15 October 1946
- 36th Fighter-Day Group36th WingThe United States Air Force's 36th Wing is the host wing for Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. It is part of United States Pacific Air Forces Thirteenth Air Force...
, 8 September 1955 - 36th Fighter-Day (later Tactical Fighter) Wing36th WingThe United States Air Force's 36th Wing is the host wing for Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. It is part of United States Pacific Air Forces Thirteenth Air Force...
, 8 December 1957 - 86th Fighter-Interceptor Wing86th Airlift WingThe 86th Airlift Wing is a United States Air Force wing, currently assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe. The 86th AW is stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany-Mission:...
, 8 April 1960 - 86th Air Division86th Air DivisionThe 86th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe, being stationed at Ramstein Air Base, West Germany...
, 18 November 1961 - Seventeenth Air ForceSeventeenth Air ForceSeventeenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force located at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The command served the United States Air Forces in Europe during its years of active service...
, 1 November 1968 - 32d Tactical Fighter Group, 16 November 1989-1 July 1994
- 32d Air Operations Group, 1 July 1994-1 November 2005
Stations
- Kelly Field, Texas, i February 1940
- Brooks FieldBrooks City-BaseBrooks City-Base was a United States Air Force facility located in San Antonio, Texas, southeast of Downtown San Antonio.In 2002 Brooks Air Force Base was renamed Brooks City-Base when the property was conveyed to the Brooks Development Authority as part of a unique project between local, state,...
, Texas, 1 February 1940 - Langley Field, VirginiaVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, 18 November 1940 - Losey Army AirfieldLosey Army AirfieldLosey Army Airfield is a former United States Army Air Forces World War II air base on Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico. It is located on the southern coast of Puerto Rico....
, Puerto RicoPuerto RicoPuerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, 6 January 1941
- Detachment operated from Arecibo Field, Puerto RicoPuerto RicoPuerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, 11 December 1941-19 February 1942- Arecibo Field, Puerto RicoPuerto RicoPuerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, 19 February 1942 - Hato FieldHato International AirportHato International Airport or Curaçao International Airport is the airport of Willemstad, Curaçao. It has services to the Caribbean region, South America, North America and Europe...
, CuraçaoCuraçaoCuraçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, 9 March 1943
- Arecibo Field, Puerto Rico
- Detachment operated from: Dakota FieldQueen Beatrix International AirportQueen Beatrix International Airport , in Oranjestad, Aruba, is an aviation facility. It has flight services to the United States, most countries in the Caribbean, the northern coastal countries of South America, Canada and some parts of Europe, notably the Netherlands...
, ArubaArubaAruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
, 9 March 1943-March 1944 - Detachment operated from: Losey Army AirfieldLosey Army AirfieldLosey Army Airfield is a former United States Army Air Forces World War II air base on Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico. It is located on the southern coast of Puerto Rico....
, Puerto RicoPuerto RicoPuerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, 9 March-4 June 1943- France FieldEnrique Adolfo Jiménez AirportEnrique Adolfo Jiménez Airport is a commercial airport located in Colón, Panama, offering scheduled airline flights to the national capital, Panama City, and to other destinations....
, Canal ZonePanama Canal ZoneThe Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
, 13 March 1944 - Howard Field, Canal ZonePanama Canal ZoneThe Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
, 10 January 1945-15 October 1946 - Soesterberg AB, Netherlands, 8 September 1955-1 July 1994
- Kapaun Air Station, Germany, 1 July 1994-1 November 2005
- France Field
Aircraft
- YP-37 HawkP-36 HawkThe Curtiss P-36 Hawk, also known as the Curtiss Hawk Model 75, was an American-designed and built fighter aircraft of the 1930s and 40s. A contemporary of both the Hawker Hurricane and Messerschmitt Bf 109, it was one of the first of a new generation of combat aircraft—a sleek monoplane design...
, 1940 - P-36 HawkP-36 HawkThe Curtiss P-36 Hawk, also known as the Curtiss Hawk Model 75, was an American-designed and built fighter aircraft of the 1930s and 40s. A contemporary of both the Hawker Hurricane and Messerschmitt Bf 109, it was one of the first of a new generation of combat aircraft—a sleek monoplane design...
, 1940-1943 - P-40 Warhawk 1942-1944
- P-39 Aircobra, 1942-1945
- P-38 LightningP-38 LightningThe Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
. 1945-1946
- P-47 ThunderboltP-47 ThunderboltRepublic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
, 1946 - F-86 SabreF-86 SabreThe North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...
, 1955-1956 - F-100 Super SabreF-100 Super SabreThe North American F-100 Super Sabre was a supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard until 1979. The first of the Century Series collection of USAF jet fighters, it was the first USAF fighter capable of...
, 1958-1960 - F-102 Delta DaggerF-102 Delta DaggerThe Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was a US interceptor aircraft built as part of the backbone of the United States Air Force's air defenses in the late 1950s. Entering service in 1956, its main purpose was to intercept invading Soviet bomber fleets...
, 1960-1968 - F-4 Phantom IIF-4 Phantom IIThe McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
, 1968-1978 - F-15 EagleF-15 EagleThe McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights...
, 1978-1994